title: Differing spectrum of HIV-associated ophthalmic disease among patients starting antiretroviral therapy in India and South Africa.
abstract: Differences in the prevalence and spectrum of HIV-associated ophthalmic disease in Africa and Asia are not well documented. We studied two comparable cohorts of patients initiating antiretroviral therapy in Mumbai, India, and Cape Town, South Africa. The prevalence of HIV-associated ophthalmic disease was higher in the Indian population (17.5%) than in the South African population (12.1%). This was largely because of vitreo-retinal opportunistic infections (11.4%vs. 2.6%, respectively), notably cytomegalovirus retinitis. This difference persisted after adjusting for confounding factors (adjusted odds ratio=11.32, 95% confidence interval: 2.67-48.13), confirming a marked geographical difference in the prevalence of HIV-associated retinal disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Research, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK. Sophia.Pathai@lshtm.ac.uk
authors.forename: Sophia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pathai
authors.forename: Clare
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gilbert
authors.forename: Helen A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Weiss
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: McNally
authors.forename: Stephen D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Lawn
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D017726:Cytomegalovirus Retinitis / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009894:Opportunistic Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult